Aviation history is filled with tales of trailblazers. From shattered records to broken barriers, aviators have pushed the envelope far beyond speed records and marathon flights around the world. Throughout Black History Month, we’ll highlight the stories of heroes who helped pave the way for the Black-American aviators today:
- Bessie Coleman: The first woman of African-American and Native-American descent who took to the skies with a pilot’s license.
- Charles Alfred Anderson, Sr.: Regarded as the “Father of Black Aviation,” he was the first African-American to receive an air transport pilot certificate and was later the chief flight instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen.
- Marlon Green: The pilot whose U.S. Supreme Court case resulted in a landmark decision that would help end racial discrimination in the airline industry.
- Robert Ashby: Became the first and only member of the Tuskegee Airmen to fly for a commercial airline when he was hired by Frontier Airlines and retired from his career as an ALPA member.
- Mae Jemison: The first Black-American woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor on STS-47
Did we miss someone? Let us know.
We’re proud to celebrate Black History Month and the countless other Black Americans whose achievements in aviation have inspired many to follow them into the skies and beyond.